Physicality, dirty work and a defensive mindset: What led UDFA WR Jackson Meeks to Detroit
Allen Park — The Detroit Lions have had at least one undrafted rookie make the team's initial 53-man roster each year dating back to 2010, including three last season. So, who among the 10 UDFAs the team signed last week is capable of keeping that 15-year streak alive?
Well, if guaranteed money is a viable indicator, wide receiver Jackson Meeks has an initial leg up in that race, one he didn't cede during last weekend's rookie minicamp.
Meeks checks boxes, both on the surface and under the hood. At 6-foot-2, 213 pounds, he has NFL-ready size. And although he's not a burner, he offers an above-average athletic profile, highlighted by an impressive short-area burst.
More importantly, Meeks understands how to put his frame to good use. He paced college football with 21 contested catches last season. And what was likely music to the Lions' ears when they offered him $200,000 in guarantees to sign after the draft, he's a stellar blocker on the perimeter.
In a conversation after the first rookie minicamp practice on Friday, Meeks said his enthusiasm for blocking was born at Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama. In that competitive program, Meeks learned that excelling at the dirty work was the path to early playing time.
That served him well when he committed to Georgia. Meeks' blocking and effectiveness on special teams helped him see the field in both roles as a freshman.
"I like to pride myself on doing the dirty, hard work in the dark," Meeks said. "That means blocking on the backside of runs, blocking downfield, transitioning after somebody else made a catch to go make a block down the field to spring them loose. It's the small things that I worked on in high school that translated to Georgia. That's how I ended up making the traveling roster at Georgia, being able to start on all four phases of special teams, and getting in (on offense) to go block in certain packages."
However, Meeks hit a ceiling at Georgia. He wanted to stay, compete, and prove he could be an impactful contributor at the highest level, but also knew his time was running short. So he made the difficult decision to enter the transfer portal, ultimately deciding to follow the Bulldogs' defensive backs coach, Fran Brown, to Syracuse, after he was named the school's head coach.
"It was the best decision of my life," Meeks said. "I wouldn't be here with the Lions if I hadn't made that decision."
After catching 10 passes across three seasons at Georgia, Meeks flourished with Syracuse, hauling in 78 balls for a team-high 1,021 yards and seven touchdowns.
But it's the little things, that dirty work done in the dark, which will give him a shot to make Detroit's roster as a UDFA. That includes special teams, which is often the key area where an undrafted player can tip the scales in their favor.
"I love PBR (punt block return)," Meeks said. "I love hold-up. That's my thing. I also love KOC (kickoff coverage). I love running and heat-seeking. It's only 10 yards up here (with the NFL's kickoff format), so I can't really run as fast. At the same time, I'm going to make that play.
"I like to say I'm a defensive offensive player," Meeks said. "I create the physicality most of the time. I don't have to talk too much about it because I've put it on film. Just bringing that physicality here, wherever I go, wherever it is, I want to show I can be an asset to the team, no matter what it is, receiver, special teams. Hell, if a coach wants to put me on defense, I guess I'm going to play some defense."
Detroit drafted three players out of Georgia this year — guard Tate Ratledge, safety Dan Jackson and slot receiver Dominic Lovett. Meeks was also developed in that premier program, so it was no surprise to those former teammates why he appealed to the Lions.
"They're going to get — how can I say it — a guy that can do everything, that can be anywhere," Lovett said. "They can put him everywhere — special teams, offense, inside, outside, hold-up, gunner. Wherever you put Jackson Meeks, you're going to get the best out of him."
Meeks said four or five teams showed interest in signing him after the draft. Obviously, $200,000 in guarantees can make that an easy decision. Regardless, he said he was eager to play for a winning team that would value his work ethic and strengths.
"I know that my physicality, my hard work and the things I pride myself on in this game, that's going to show up here, and the Lions are going to appreciate how I play the game," Meeks said.
The next few months are an audition, and Meeks intends to throw himself into Detroit's playbook. He wants to be assignment sound and reliable. That also extends to being available. He was heading to the training room after our conversation, which is all part of his routine.
"I stay in therapy and make sure my body is right because availability is the best ability," Meeks said. "I need to stay available through all the phases.
As for that sting of going undrafted, it lingers. Meeks intends to use it to fuel his fire.
"I'm going to make everybody regret that," he said.
